USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
Most ferrari and lamborghini are autos these days, as are astons. The myth that sports cars have to be manual has long been busted. Yes, they have flappy paddles, but I bet most owners just stick them in full auto.
Auto or Manual
- Thread starter JCW
- Start date
Most ferrari and lamborghini are autos these days, as are astons. The myth that sports cars have to be manual has long been busted. Yes, they have flappy paddles, but I bet most owners just stick them in full auto.
Fyldewhite
Tour Winner
I've had my first auto for about 2 years now. Still not convinced. But there again don't do much driving in heavy traffic, round town etc. Quite enjoy driving the wife's Mini when I get the chance. Will have a difficult choice when it comes to swapping next time.
Aztecs27
Money List Winner
What car do you drive, if you don't mind me asking?
And what is it that you're not convinced about? it's just so much easier all round!
Beedee
Assistant Pro
Auto all the way.
In town - autos are just plain better. On the motorway - no real difference. On a twisty country road that perfectly timed heel and toe gear change will save you 0.1 seconds (and that messed up heel and toe change will crunch the gears horribly). Modern autos are smoother, faster and more efficient.
In town - autos are just plain better. On the motorway - no real difference. On a twisty country road that perfectly timed heel and toe gear change will save you 0.1 seconds (and that messed up heel and toe change will crunch the gears horribly). Modern autos are smoother, faster and more efficient.
Auto all the way, I'd never go back to a manual.
Fyldewhite
Tour Winner
Volvo S80, just a big comfortable car, nothing flash. My previous car was a manual S60 so the only real difference is the auto element. Agree it's easier, and that is maybe the problem. I like to feel that I'm driving the car rather than being driven and that's the overall feeling an automatic gives me. There's sort of not enough to do?? It's boring?? I know a big saloon is never going to be fun to drive in a sports car or hot hatch sense but the auto still takes some of that feeling of control and freedom away for me.
PS A bit like Stableford v Medal. I like stableford, it's easier but it's still not proper golf.
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Deleted member 18121
Guest
I'm a car man....would never have an auto. Dull dull dull. IMO.
Norrin Radd
Tour Winner
i had a honda accord that was auto ,absolutely awesome ,if i had the choice it would be auto all the way.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
But most of the driving I do is dull driving.
If I want fun driving, I do a track day in my wife's car, but I wouldn't want to commute in it every day.
Funny, this is exactly the type of car that screams auto box. The S80 is a big comfy cruiser. Not a 0-60 car, a real sit on the motorway and glide type of car. I bet in re-sale terms your car is worth much more than a manual version.
Fyldewhite
Tour Winner
Resale doesn't really bother me, I've paid the premium when I bought it, I'll get some back when I sell. Not dismissing autos at all btw, just saying that for me they do lack something. Yes, it's built for straight line cruising but the auto makes zero difference to that, so was the S60.......they say motorway driving is boring and for me an auto brings that boredom into everyday driving around town, in the country etc. Obviously some big positives about autos but as I said, I'm not convinced they outweigh the positives of a manual which for me are quite a few. Time will tell, may be in the market for a change next year!
I do get your point. The resale comment was a little clumsy. I was trying to get across that most people want that type of car, 5 series, A6, E class, XF etc in an auto rather than a manual. To get more of a drivers car you are likely to have to drop a size perhaps as they tend to go a little more sporty than cruisie. Not an absolute fact but the market is larger for manuals a size down.
MadAdey
Money List Winner
I love my Auto, 2013 550i with full M-pack. It's got the 8 speed auto with the flappy paddles too. Totally seamless shifting, even from the flappy pedals when it's in manual mode. I have not once thought that maybe I should have a manual and never would now. It's so much less hassle when in heavy traffic.
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Deleted Member 1156
Guest
Agree about a full auto box but I've had flappy paddles before and I think they are a great compromise!
Hired a 520d luxury auto for 10 days whilst in Portugal, and drove for 7 hours across to the east coast of Spain. The most comfortable car I've ever done a long journey in.
CliveW
Tour Winner
We have four cars, two are manual and two auto and I must say for driveability the manual cars are the best especially around the roads here. If I was driving motorways or towns then auto is best, but then that's not proper driving.
Robster59
Tour Rookie
The new DSG auto boxes to many cars these days are really very good and as most of my driving is city and motorways then auto would be totally logical for me. Many of them are now also more economical than manuals.
GreiginFife
Money List Winner
Both my cars are auto. One is 7 speed and the other 9. Both have DSG systems with paddle option if I wish.
Both in sport+ mode are superb fun to drive and I now prefer auto to manual.
And I am only 38.
Both in sport+ mode are superb fun to drive and I now prefer auto to manual.
And I am only 38.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
My auto is old school 5 speed. But my commute is 5 minutes through Watford, 15 minutes down the M1, and then 15 minutes to do the last mile.
My commute home is 20 minutes minimum for the first mile, 15 minutes down the M1, and then 10 minutes through Watford.
When I drive my wife's car I feel like I am pedalling it along, the work my left leg is doing.
My commute home is 20 minutes minimum for the first mile, 15 minutes down the M1, and then 10 minutes through Watford.
When I drive my wife's car I feel like I am pedalling it along, the work my left leg is doing.
MadAdey
Money List Winner
Anyone who thinks that autos aren't sporty should look at F1 cars. My car is actually 0.2 seconds quicker to 60 for not being manual. I have drove it on winding roads using the flappy padels and it feels better than any manual I have driven. The other cool thing is that in SPORT+ mode the will still change automatically when it's hit the optimum revs even though I'm using the padels.
